Brian Emerson, a medical consultant with the provincial Health Ministry since 2003, told Vancouver Coastal Health’s top doctor and the Provincial Health Officer that British Columbia could apply for a special exemption to federal drug laws, allowing it to move ahead on its own.As Vancouver struggled to regulate its explosion of marijuana dispensaries, top provincial health officials considered how they could legalize the recreational use of the drug across British Columbia. In a series of e-mails released through a Freedom of Information request, the health officials acknowledged there would likely be little progress toward legalization while the staunchly anti-drug Conservatives hold power in Ottawa, instead suggesting such a radical change would likely come about only if the Liberals win the fall election.> more @ Globe & Mail

How Safe is Your Vape Pen? - by Jahan Marcu

The cannabis oil-delivery devices are increasingly popular, but the science hasn't kept up with the market. there may be a hidden downside to vape pens, which are manufactured (typically in China), marketed, and utilized without regulatory controls. Available online and in medical marijuana dispensaries, vape pens contain a battery-operated heating mechanism, which at high temperatures can transform solvents, flavoring agents, and various vape oil additives into carcinogens and other dangerous toxins.

Canada - Dr. David Hepburn is on a mission to change how family doctors view medical marijuana.

For the past year and a half, David Hepburn has been travelling Canada, educating his fellow family doctors on why and when to prescribe medical marijuana. Speaking at conferences, sometimes sponsored by the commercial growers licensed by Health Canada, Dr. Hepburn runs through the history of cannabis prohibition and the research that has been done on the plant. He says he is trying to change the minds of a medical establishment loath to endorse a drug that has vast amounts of anecdotal evidence, but scant clinical trials, to support its use. He said cannabis can be a suitable medicine for patients suffering migraines, nerve-related pain, neurodegenerative conditions, such as MS, and symptoms such as insomnia or anxiety. > more @ Globe & Mail

This morning Americans for Safe Access (ASA) launched the Truth About Medical Marijuana educational website and accompanying event series. The Truth About Medical Marijuana will focus on emerging issues in the area of medical marijuana, including understanding the research behind the medicine, emerging policies issues surrounding cannabidiol (CBD) and consumer safety issues. > more @ The Weed Blog

Congress's Summer Fling With Marijuana. How Congress turned on the DEA and embraced weed.

It’s not easy being the DEA these days. After an unprecedented losing streak on Capitol Hill, the once-untouchable Drug Enforcement Administration suffered last week what might be considered the ultimate indignity: A Senate panel, for the first time, voted in favor of legal, recreational marijuana. Last Thursday, the Appropriations Committee voted 16-14 on an amendment to allow marijuana businesses access to federal banking services, a landmark shift that will help states like Colorado, where pot is legal, fully integrate marijuana into their economies. As significant as the vote was—according to drug policy reform advocates, it marked the first time that either house of Congress has voted to advance legislation concerning legal marijuana—it’s only the latest vote in a remarkable run of success marijuana advocates have had this year on Capitol Hill.> more @ Politico.com

Canada - Trudeau repeats his support for Marijuana Legalization for Adult Use.

“Our current approach isn’t working. We need the federal government to regulate it, control it, and work with provincial partners and regulators to organize dispensaries.” - Justin Trudeau, Liberal Leader> more @ cjob.com

Canada - Nathan Cullen, NDP finance critic, repeats the NDP's position on Marijuana, which fails to address the black market and quality control.

Philippe Lucas, vice president of patient research and services at medical marijuana producer Tilray, questioned Cullen on the NDP's stance on marijuana. The party has proposed decriminalizing the substance. "You've still got the black market," Lucas said in response. Cullen said the government should not rush into legalizing the substance. "This is a first step for us, it's not a final step," he said of his party's stance.

Inhaled cannabis can blunt the pain of diabetic neuropathy without seriously impairing cognitive function, a new study shows. "The higher the dose, the more the pain relief," first author Mark Wallace, MD, told Medscape Medical News. "There was, however, a dose-dependent increase in euphoria." > more @ medscape (signup may be required)

If the bill becomes law, D.C. could finally regulate marijuana – setting time and place restrictions, requiring proper labeling and content control, establishing age restrictions, and taxing marijuana and using the proceeds for treatment, education, and rebuilding communities devastated by the failed war on drugs. > more @ DrugPolicy.Org

5 Promising Marijuana Studies That Explore How Cannabinoids Interact with the Human Body.

1. Your Endocannabinoid System Could Impact Your Metabolic Health.2. Different Cannabis Compounds May Affect CB1 Receptors Differently.3. CBD May Have Anti-Psychotic Properties.4. CBD Could Also Prove Beneficial for Various Neurodegenerative Disorders.5. CBG May Minimize Muscle Loss from Various Diseases.

When choosing retirement locales, a few factors pop to mind: climate, amenities, proximity to grandchildren, access to quality healthcare. Chris Cooper had something else to consider – marijuana laws. The investment adviser from Toledo had long struggled with back pain due to a fractured vertebra and crushed disc from a fall. He hated powerful prescription drugs like Vicodin, but one thing did help ease the pain and spasms: marijuana.> more @ Time

Voila Natural, a natural health and beauty company based in Colfax, North Carolina, has recently announced the launch of their newest product, Hemp Hand and Body Lotion. The all-natural formula is designed to nourish and revitalize dry skin with organic plant oils including argan oil and marula oil, plus the added health and beauty benefits of organic Hemp Seed Oil.> more

"I found an abundance of scientific research available that showed the therapeutic benefits of cannabis not only for epilepsy but also as a viable treatment option for specific cancers, chronic pain and strong research results specifically with brain tumours, as well as a host of other conditions. After reading this information we immediately commenced the medical cannabis treatment. Within seven weeks of starting the cannabis treatment we witnessed my son's brain tumor reduce by almost half of its original diagnosed size. My son not only experienced positive benefits of a reduction in the tumor size but also found it to be an effective treatment for controlling his epilepsy and the management of his chronic pain and frequent nausea that he suffered from the lesion. When we are in the US we have the complete support of a team of doctors who hold a wealth of knowledge and experience in the use of cannabis and cannabinoids as a frontline treatment option."> more @ The Chronicle

Canada - Mark Zekulin CFRA audio interview.

Mark is the president of Tweed, a Canadian medicinal marijuana licensed producer.

Canada - Australian family pins health hopes on medicinal marijuana in Victoria, BC.

Bobby Fulton is a cannabis-oil evangelist. The Australian woman uprooted her family two weeks ago to spend the summer in Victoria so her two daughters suffering a rare degenerative lung disease could get a steady, legal supply of the drug. After her elder daughter collapsed last October from toxic levels of the steroids, the family tried cannabis oil. Within two weeks, Tabetha’s heart had returned to its normal size and a month after consuming cannabis oil on a daily basis she needed oxygen only at night, her mother said.> more @ Globe & Mail

USA - Denver’s ABC affiliate will run its first pot ad next week, pre-Jimmy Kimmel.

Is this the first time a pot product has been advertised on TV? The station’s vice president said it will follow the state’s strict cannabis advertising laws. “KMGH has agreed to accept ads from legal cannabis businesses,” said Brad Remington, the station’s vice president and general manager. “The first of these TV ads will probably air within the next week. We have set some strict guidelines on when these ads can run and the content of the ads. Ads for recreational use, for example, cannot air until after 10 p.m. and cannot show people using the product. We will also accept ads from legal businesses on The Denver Channel, with restrictions.” > more @ The Cannabist

USA - Marijuana legalization in California: Leading group moves to place initiative on 2016 ballot.

Proponents of a proposed ballot measure aimed at making California the fifth state to legalize pot for recreational use are a few weeks away from kicking off their November 2016 campaign, supporters said Thursday. During a conference call with reporters, Sky Jones said she thinks it will take up to $14 million to run a successful campaign.> more @ Mercury News

USA - The new legal marijuana business has created once-in-a-lifetime business opportunities.

There are risks and challenges, but there also could be a pot of gold at the end of this entrepreneurial rainbow.> more @ Seattle Times

Hemp - Hemp, hemp hooray: Ballot time.

Since 2013, I have been affiliated with a group of citizens working to place on the statewide ballot the California Cannabis Hemp Initiative, or CCHI as we call it (www.cchi2016.org ). - by Scott Kender> more @ Times Standard

Kash Heed says provincial government could follow Washington state and legalize, regulate and tax marijuana use by adults. “B.C. could do it in a responsible way, if there was the political will provincially,” said Heed, who also served as the commanding officer of the Vancouver Police Department’s drug squad. “It’s time for them to take a position on this at the provincial level, absolutely.> more @ The Province

Marijuana.Ca comment : We strongly support legalizing and regulating Marijuana for adult use. An election is coming. Your vote counts. See > Pot.Ca

We had a chance to speak again with Chuck Rifici last week, in the wake of the Tweed/Bedrocan announced merger, the Jacob Securities Canada Cannabis Conference, Vancouver’s plans to regulate dispensaries, pharmacy distribution, legalization, the upcoming election in Canada, edibles, American investors and the emerging global cannabis industry!

Health Canada has changed medical marijuana regulations to allow the production and distribution of marijuana oil and fresh bud. Find out what the new rules actually mean for patients.> more @ Cannabis Culture

USA - AMC stirs the pot with ad in High Times marijuana magazine.

In a sign that the political winds are changing, High Times — the 41-year-old monthly magazine dedicated to all things marijuana — has landed its first ever non-pot-related advertiser. IFC, the cable TV channel owned by AMC Networks, has taken out an ad in the October issue for its show “Comedy Bang! Bang!”. Publisher Mary McEvoy, an 11-year veteran of the magazine, said, “This is a first. We hope it unplugs the dam.”> more @ NY Post

Once the marijuana industry began to boom in 2014 due to legalization in some states, there came about, like any traditional goods-based industry, a fresh crop of for-profit service and infrastructure businesses to support it. Since then, a successful cannabis ecosystem of financial and other services has been growing like a weed.> more @ Wall Street Daily

Business is booming for Canada's hemp industry, but industry experts say it could be on the cusp of even bigger things. "This year is a year of change," says Jan Slaski, a senior researcher at the government-funded Alberta Innovates Technology Futures who has been studying hemp uses.> more @ Chronicle Journal

The Lift Cannabis Forum Series is our attempt to expand on the conversations and topics relevant to the current medical marijuana industry in Canada, from the perspective of patients, producers, doctors, activists and more. Medical cannabis is a subject that continues to grow in popularity in Canada and around the globe, and we feel it important to help ensure the conversations on the subject are as nuanced and informed as they need to be.> more @ Lift

One family's powerful and heart wrenching medical-marijuana story.

Erika and Michael Zorn pause on a walk in their Bucks County neighborhood June 4, 2015 with children, Lily (right), 2-1/2 and Emma (left), 6-1/2. Erika has struggled with severe Lupus and found relief for her debilitating symptoms: She smokes pot, which they illegally grew in their basement for years until cops were alerted and arrested them on drug charges. .> more @ philly.com

“We are bringing the two strongest brands in Canadian cannabis under one roof,” said Tweed CEO Bruce Linton. “We will continue to develop and grow the Tweed and Bedrocan Canada brands, focusing on rapidly increasing market penetration for our full-line of products. Over 5,000 existing customers will now benefit from having access to products from two producers. For future patients and physicians, the choice will be clear.”> more @ can tech letter

Canada - What Montreal Would Look Like If Marijuana Was Legalized.

Montreal is known for its party life and epicurean tendencies, but legalizing marijuana brings so much more to the table than fostering that lifestyle. In fact, it has some serious benefits, so why is there such a big divide? For starters, we know that it would definitely increase tourism. It also has therapeutic properties that have been proven helpful for cancer patients and other illnesses.> more @ mtl blog

USA - Medical marijuana is now legal in Minnesota!

At the stroke of midnight, on July 1st, medical marijuana became legal in Minnesota. Moments later, the state's first cannabis clinic welcomed its first patients. "We've been waiting a long time for this," said Kim Kelsey, holding up a small white pill bottle containing a week's supply of cannabis pills outside. The Minnesota Medical Solutions clinic in downtown Minneapolis opened its doors just after midnight July 1 for a handful of clients, like Kelsey, who didn't want to wait even a few more hours to start treatment. > more @ star tribune

Hemp- 10 Ways Hemp Seeds Could Benefit Your Life.

"Being a source of all essential amino acids and fatty acids, and an array of vitamins and minerals makes hemp seed a nutrient dense, complete nutrition-packed seed," says Shaistha Zaheeruddin, registered dietitian and founder of Modest Nutrition in Milton. "This seed is comparable to many healthy nuts and seeds (like walnuts, flax, chia seeds) with a lot of promise [for long term health benefits]."> more @ huffington post

Recent Supreme Court ruling ended ban on extracts, but licensed producers prevented from supplying them.Mandy McKnight uses marijuana oil to treat her son Liam's Dravet Syndrome, a catastrophic form of epilepsy. She said she wants to be able to contact a licensed producer to get the extract Liam needs, rather than having to make it herself.The Smiths Falls, Ont.-based firm Tweed, however, is optimistic that it will be granted permission "over the course of the next couple or few months," said CEO Bruce Linton. The company filed an application about nine months ago.Health Canada wouldn't provide details on how the process to amend regulations is going. "The government is reviewing the [Supreme Court] decision in detail and determining next steps," the statement reads. The department did not answer questions about the information it's providing producers or patients on cannabis extracts.> more @ cbc.ca

The Medical Marijuana Industry .Castrongly urges Health Canada to act immediately to allow Licensed Producers to produce various kinds of extracts and edibles. Certain doctor authorized patients, like children with severe epilepsy, patients with various kinds of paralysis and patients on ventilators, urgently need these derivatives right now.

Canada - Tweed Bedrocan marijuana merger the first of many needed to solidify the industry.

“For anybody observing the sector, there was a brand (Tweed) which was a conversation, and there was a brand (Bedrocan) which has a medical-oriented strength,” Bruce Linton (Tweed) said. “It was very obvious to us that you could put the two together and dominate the market, because it would give every patient and doctor options and access that resonate with one audience or the other.”"The rationale for and benefits of this transaction are clear, for investors, health professionals, researchers, and most importantly, for patients," said Marc Wayne, President and CEO of Bedrocan Canada. "Tweed and Bedrocan Canada have each helped set the industry standards for professionalism, product quality, dependable supply and exceptional customer care. Together, we will have the largest production and sales capacity in the industry, as well as a broad and complementary product line, and will be capable of allocating additional resources to product research and innovation, as well as to continuous improvement of the customer care experience."

Victoria’s mayor says her city will look to emulate Vancouver’s plan to regulate marijuana dispensaries despite warnings from the Conservative federal government that they are illegal and threaten public health. Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said her staff are studying Vancouver’s guidelines and will report to council in September about imposing similar regulations on the provincial capital’s 19 dispensaries and compassion clubs. Ms. Helps said Victoria, like Vancouver, was forced to look for ways to regulate the retail shops after they doubled in number over the past year.> more @ Globe & Mail

USA - Is California Going to Legalize Marijuana?

California might Legalize Marijuana in 2016. ...if and when the state goes green, that could be the death knell for pot prohibition. In one fell swoop, 15% of the entire country will have legalized it--and that's not even counting other states also likely to legalize it the same day, including Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada. When the nation's most populous state does something, the rest of us take notice.> more @ Alternet

Kieran McCrory : I'm sick of being sick and tired of being tired. And I'm reading that cannabis oil could help, but I can't get it. "The medication I'm on now is strong anti-seizure medication. I want to get off that and get my own mind back.> more @ BBC

Press Release - CannTrust is a Proud Sponsor of Toronto Pride

CannTrust to promote education regarding Medical Cannabis at Toronto Pride June 26th-28th.> more

About Marijuana Legalization for Adult Use : "So if you regulate it, if you control it, whether it’s working with the provinces, which we’ll have to do anyway for the equivalent of a liquor control board to sell it. If we look at a liquor store model, they’re actually provincially regulated and that will require us to work with provinces. There’s no expectation. As for age, in my mind the age of majority as set by the provinces makes sense. Eighteen in the provinces that choose 18 and nineteen in others." - Justin Trudeau> more @ Ottawa Citizen

Canada - Supreme Court Edibles ruling gives greater choices to patients and opportunity for legal marijuana plants. Some LP's are already researching how to make oils.

The Supreme Court of Canada’s decision to allow approved patients to turn their dried marijuana product into oils or edibles has been much anticipated by industry members like Tweed of Smiths Falls whose application for oils is currently in process. About nine months ago Health Canada began accepting applications for an attribute (or additional permission to an existing license) that would allow approved companies like Tweed to take the dried marijuana flower and extract the oils. Tweed got in on that process last fall, and while the length of this process is unclear, Bruce Linton, CEO of Tweed said: “I think we’re well along it. That attribute could be much more valuable given that ruling.” > more @ Inside Brockville-Marijuana.Ca urges Health Canada to move immediately to allow Licensed Producers to produce various kinds of derivatives, edibles, oils and topical creams. There are many kinds of authorized MMPR patients who, for various reasons, cannot or should not smoke or vaporize dried marijuana. For example, most sick Canadians who are on ventilators should not smoke or vaporize dried marijuana. Same goes for many of the Canadian kids who have severe epilepsy or Dravet Syndrome.

Court Decision: “As soon as it happened on Thursday [June 11], our phone started ringing off the hook from different dispensaries across Canada wanting to get our product into their stores,” said Michelle Sikora, who owns and operates S&M Medicinal Sweet Shoppe with her husband Doug out of their home in Selma Park. “People are asking us, ‘How much can we get and how fast?’”> more @ Coast Reporter

"The head of the company that plans to develop cannabis-based oils, creams and capsules in Owen Sound is applauding a Supreme Court of Canada decision that expands the definition of legal medical marijuana beyond the traditional smoked variety. “We’re excited. It plays right into our opportunity because we had always wanted to focus on oils and derivatives and concentrates and so forth,” Scott Boyes, president of the Toronto-based Canadian Bioceutical Corporation.> more @ Owen Sound Times

In Live Free or Die, a 2010 memoir recounting how cannabis oil saved her life, Shona Banda emphasizes the importance of “self-taught knowledge,” acquired by constantly asking questions and “looking at all of the angles of any information given.”> more @ Forbes

How to Open a Medical Marijuana Dispensary or Recreational Marijuana Shop in Colorado.

Interested in starting your own recreational cannabis shop or medical marijuana dispensary in Colorado? Want to join an exciting, rapidly-growing industry before it starts to get crazy crowded? Here’s a handy, step-by-step guide to opening your own cannabis location, whether it's medical or recreational, in Colorado.> more @ Leafly

The 12th International Conference of the European Industrial Hemp Association, the leading event for industrial hemp, concluded in Wesseling, Germany, last month, attracting record participation of 260 industrial hemp experts from 38 countries. > more @ Innovation In Textiles

Alex Repetski gives his 3 year old daughter Gwenevere marijuana oil to treat her epilepsy. But under rules in place until this week, that oil has been illegal because medical pot users were only permitted to use dried marijuana.Marijuana.Ca comment : The major problem here is that Health Minister Rona Ambrose and Health Canada will not allow Licensed Producers to make this marijuana oil, which forces Alex to either give his daughter joints to smoke or to make the oil himself.

"[She] is busy blaming the courts when she should really be looking at her own office instead of vitriolicly condemning a unanimous Supreme Court of Canada decision with a bunch of justices that her boss [Stephen Harper] appointed to that court," Tousaw said. "Maybe go back to the drawing board, listen to patients for a change, and come up with a system that is going to work." - Kirk Tousaw> link - Straight.com

Cheryl Rose, whose daughter Hayley takes marijuana for a severe form of epilepsy, was overjoyed by the decision and said her 22-year-old's seizures have dropped dramatically. Under the old law, Hayley was ingesting 15 capsules of dried cannabis daily. Now, she will only have to swallow one concentrated capsule made with oil.Marijuana.Ca comment : The Harper Government and Health Canada will not allow Licensed Producers to make this oil for Haley Rose. Health Canada must change the regulations immediately to allow for this.> HuffingtonPost.Ca

In his 25 short years, Tristan Williams has battled two cancers, had countless surgeries and a hip replacement. And as if that wasn't enough, he also suffers from multiple sclerosis. Inhalation offers fast relief, but Williams says he often prefers the milder, longer-lasting feeling from edibles such as cookies, oils and butters.Marijuana.Ca comment : Health Canada and Health Minister Rona Ambrose will not allow Licensed Producers to make edibles, teas, oils or topical creams. Health Canada and Minister Ambrose only allow licensed producers to sell dry Marijuana. This forces authorized patients to either smoke it or vapourize it, or go thru the difficult and untested method of processing it themselves, which is very difficult or impossible if you are very sick, on a ventilator or paralyzed.> - ctvnews.ca

True Story : Man actually named Santa Claus rejoices after town of North Pole OKs marijuana sales. The town of North Pole is in Alaska. - newsminer.com> more

Canada - The head of B.C.’s medical association says the federal government is failing Canada’s doctors by not providing meaningful guidelines on how to talk to their patients about medical marijuana prescriptions in the absence of reliable clinical studies. - Globe and MailBrian Kierans, a 30-year-old TV industry worker in Toronto, uses medicinal marijuana for his irritable bowel syndrome: “The system that’s set up is set up to be as complicated as possible and, unfortunately, we’re all just caught in it,” Mr. Kierans said. “And we’re all just trying to do our best.”> more

USA - Texas - Medical Marijuana Oil, A Legal Treatment For Epileptics. - everythinglubbock.comJared Dempsey, neuroscientist and executive director of Addiction Recovery Research Institute, said case studies have proven that a tailored and controlled dosage of cannabis oil helps reduce the amount of seizures for some epileptics that are resistant to medications."There are many people that need this treatment, because no other treatment works and they are going to places to access it and it can be quite dangerous," Dempsey said. "What we need to do and what the state is moving towards is putting this in the hands of physicians and providers and regulating it and providing therapeutic dose levels." - Jared Dempsey> more

Study: 16% of Patients With MS Are Using Marijuana. - NARCOMS : North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis> more

USA - Federal - American Legalization Momentum Continues to Grow.Republican Controlled House of Representatives Votes In Favor Of Medical Marijuana Protections and narrowly rejects a Recreational Legalization vote. A provision that would have blocked the Justice Department from interfering with state laws permitting the use of recreational marijuana came just a few votes shy of passing. "We’re really, really close to having the votes to end marijuana prohibition,” said Dan Riffle, director of federal policies at the Marijuana Policy Project. The measure would have essentially ended the federal prohibition on pot, advocates say.- TheHill.com> more

USA - Without medical marijuana, grandma is willing to go to jail to help her grandson. - pennlive.com> more

Canada - Hydropothecary is the first Quebec firm — and the second local one — to be awarded a license to sell medical marijuana. To date, 19 companies have been licensed to grow and sell medical marijuana. - OttawaCitizen.com> more

Israel - Lawmakers have high hopes for Marijuana Legalization. Joint left-right support for rehashed bill makes green light likelier than ever for recreational use. Under the move spearheaded by freshman MK Yinon Magal, the plant would be legal for private use, with individuals allowed to keep small amounts of marijuana and derivative products in their homes. > more

Hemp - Hemp has many nutritional benefits. Here are ten of them. - westmanjournal.com> more

Wednesday June 3rd, 2015

Controversial Marijuana Treatment Helps 9-Year-Old Boy Speak His First Words. - Yahoo.comThough Kalel Santiago of Puerto Rico is only 9 years old, he’s already endured some adult-level struggles. At just 10 months, he was diagnosed with the rare childhood cancer neuroblastoma, and spent more than two years undergoing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. Then came the next diagnosis: severe, non-verbal autism. Recently, the Santiagos happened upon a treatment that would quickly change their lives: hemp oil, rich in the compound cannabidiol (CBD), which has been shown, at least anecdotally, to dramatically ease symptoms of both epilepsy and autism. They took home the tiny sample bottle of spray and began giving their son twice daily doses, as directed on the label, right into his mouth. And the results, they say, were startling: Kalel started talking — in just two days.> more

Canada - Manitoba - Medical marijuana users in Manitoba will be unjustly impacted by the province's proposed legislation banning vaporizers from being used in most indoors spaces, says Steven Stairs, a medical marijuana user and advocate.'You wouldn't force somebody to take an insulin needle out on the street corner,' Steven Stairs says.> more

Which Marijuana Cookbook Is the Right Strain for You? - eater.com> more

Hemp - USA - Atlanta activists to showcase all things hemp. GA HEROs will focus on promoting hemp usage as a way of strengthening Georgia’s economy and generating safe, sustainable alternatives to products such as plastics, textiles, and even food. - clatl.com> more

Tuesday June 2nd, 2015

Canada - New Sydney Nova Scotia Veterans support facility offers education and access to Medicinal Marijuana.Robert MacPhee, who served in the Navy for 15 years, says marijuana has limited the side-effects of the prescription drugs he takes, and has helped with his Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.“I've waited 18 years for some help, and this is a Godsend,” he said. - ctvnews.ca> more

The Evidence Behind Marijuana and PTSD - leafscience.comSome patients find marijuana helpful for managing symptoms of PTSD. Now, researchers think marijuana might offer more ways of combating the disorder. In a recent study, researchers at the University of Haifa in Israel were able to prevent rats from developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by treating them with the active compounds in marijuana, or cannabinoids.> more

Canada - Liberal Leader, Justin Trudeau, repeats his support for Regulating Marijuana for Adult Use. - nsnews.com“We need a government that’s going to respect science and best practices, protect our kids, keep it out of the hands of gangs by controlling, regulating and taxing marijuana,” - Justin Trudeau> more

Alex Renton's family is in a desperate quest for marijuana oil for his seizure related coma. - stuff.co.nz> more

Marijuana businesses: meet the respectable leaders of the pot-com boom.As marijuana becomes legal in several US states, reputable businessmen and members of the establishment are cashing in on weed. - telegraph.co.uk > more

For Summer Readers Curious About Marijuana, A New Crop Of Marijuana Publications - Forbes.com> more

USA - Ross Kaminsky : "I don’t smoke pot and I warn my young children away from it. But the genie of marijuana legalization is not going back into the bottle, nor should it in a free society. All jokes aside, Colorado is leading the way in understanding both the benefits and perils of legal pot and of its regulatory framework. Other states, rather than stamping their feet and running to the feds, should watch this laboratory of democracy and learn from our success and our temporary failures."> more

The Insane Marijuana War : Indonesia - Two men will be executed for possession of large amounts of Marijuana. - TheJakartaPost.com > more

Solid gold 2,400-year-old Marijuana Bongs used by royal family, dug up in Russia - express.co.uk> more

Hemp - Canada - BC - A space to start a business. The Cumberland Hemp Company also uses the kitchen to make gelato. One of the products is Hempscream, a non-dairy frozen dessert with hemp and coconut milk. - Comox Valley Record > more

Wednesday May 27th, 2015

Canada to see a 40 per cent increase in cancer patients by 2030: Canadian Cancer Society report. - Huffington Post> more

Marijuana.Cacomment : We will soon be adding new information to Marijuana.Ca that sheds some light on the potential that Marijuana may have for some Cancer patients. Including information related it's potential anti nauseau, pain relief and appetite stimulation properties.

As well, additional information will be added to Marijuana.Ca related to the following subject:from the American Cancer Society (ACS): " More recently, scientists reported that THC and other cannabinoids such as CBD slow growth and/or cause death in certain types of cancer cells growing in laboratory dishes. Some animal studies also suggest certain cannabinoids may slow growth and reduce spread of some forms of cancer."> American Cancer Society web link

USA - A new federally funded study: Marijuana and its effect on veterans with PTSD - chicagonow.com> more

USA - Will the New DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) Chief Go Easy on Pot? - the daily beast > more

Hemp - New Swedish facility can process Hemp into nanocrystalline cellulose. This high-value nanomaterial cam be used to manufacture a wide range of uniquely enhanced products like pharmaceuticals, bone replacement, tooth repair, paper, high strength fibres and more. - pulpandpapercanada.com > more

Tuesday May 26th, 2015

Canada - Conservative attack ad against Trudeau supports Marijuana Prohibition which criminalizes Canadians for Marijuana use. - huffingtonpost.ca"So, what are his policies?" an older man asks. "Legalizing marijuana," another man replies. "Is that the biggest problem we have to solve?"Marijuana.Ca comment : It's an important issue amongst many important issues. Marijuana use should Not be a crime. It's also an industry worth 10 billion dollars a year or more, and it is Not taxed. Legalize it for Adult Use.> more

USA - Hearing set on using marijuana for autism. Lisa Smith says her son’s behavior was dangerous: hair pulling, kicks, punches, all related to a severe form of autism. But it began to change more than a year ago when he was given daily oral doses of oil extracted from marijuana. - lansingstatejournal.com > more

Canada - Canadian Cannabis Clinics opening London Ontario location in June - TheLonder.Ca> more

Marijuana Legalization 2015: Women Are Making Their Mark On The Marijuana Industry - ibtimes.com> more

USA - This Lawyer Wants Hillary to Loosen Up on Pot. Hillary Clinton heads to the Sunshine State this week but could get some shade from one of the state’s most prominent donors because of her views on marijuana. - thedailybeast.com > more

New York Times : An Important Victory for Medical Marijuana at the Federal Level!> more

USA - Marijuana Legalization 2015: Pot Industry Sales May Hit $30 to $50 Billion By 2019. ibtimes.com"Since I've given up pain meds I ride a push bike, I get in the water and try and swim."> more

USA - Veteran’s PTSD led to marijuana, arrest and a lucky break. Jared Hunter faced 5 years in prison. But last week, he accepted a new offer. It requires him to pay court costs and costs of prosecution, amounting to less than $1,000. His record will show not a conviction, but a withhold of adjudication — essentially, a judicial get-out-of-jail-free card that leaves his civil rights intact. The next person in the same situation may end up in jail for 5 years. - seattletimes.com> more

USA - Jeff Mizanskey could be freed from jail by the summer. Governor issues pardon. Mr. Mizanskey has been serving a life sentence in Missouri for non-violent, marijuana only offenses. - TheWeedBlog.com> more

USA - In an Historic Vote, Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Veterans Medical Marijuana Amendment. - DrugPolicy.OrgFirst Time Senate Has Voted on Marijuana Law Reform.Amendment Would Allow Veteran Affairs Doctors to Recommend Medical Marijuana to Their Patients in States Where It’s Legal. The bill is certain to pass on the Senate floor.Marijuana.Ca comment : This is a Very Significant Victory at the Federal Level in the USA for Medical Marijuana Access. It will have significant ramifications in the US, that in time, will reverberate into Canada. This is part of the overall collapse of the Medical and Recreational Marijuana Prohibition in the US and Canada. The rest of 2015 and 2016 are going to be very interesting and important times! > more

Canada - Marijuana oil showing promising results for Summerland toddler, Kyla Williams. Results are remarkable, says her grandmother, Elaine Nuessler. Kyla was suffering 100's of seizures a day. Now, no more pharmaceuticals, and she's Down to 10 seizures a day, and sometimes none at all. - GlobalNews.Ca> more

Pot kills crippling pain. Cancer-suffering medical marijuana user Paul Lawrence says. - abc.net.auCancer-sufferer Paul Lawrence says he survives crippling daily pain with medical marijuana, including a breakfast marijuana smoothie, joints and hash oil throughout the day. The 52-year-old from Wollongong underwent a world-first operation in 2010 to remove a chordoma, a rare spinal tumour, the size of a football. At the time he was given just months to live and told there was a high likelihood he would die during surgery. It left him bedridden, and about nine months ago he switched to medical marijuana. "After about a month of not taking the medications it was like a fog started to clear, and I just looked back at what I'd not been doing for the last four years and thought 'this is ridiculous'," he said."Since I've given up pain meds I ride a push bike, I get in the water and try and swim."> more

Canada - BC - Nelson - Time to tax legal marijuana. Not only should medical marijuana be available in Nelson, but all adult use should be legal, taxed and regulated. Marijuana prohibition is indefensible. Neighboring US states have legalized marijuana; Ottawa can no longer claim Canada must uphold marijuana prohibition in order to maintain good US relations. Consider the experience of Canada’s southern neighbour. - NelsonStar.com> more

Pets/Animals - Press Release - One of North America's foremost holistic veterinarians and a world expert on cannabis and its medicinal benefits for pets is joining True Leaf Medicine International's advisory board, the company announced today. Dr. Robert Silver of Boulder, Colorado, will provide True Leaf with knowledge and guidance as it develops cannabinoid-based therapies for animal and pet health. > more

USA - Parents of 3 year old, Addyson Benton, Say Medicinal Marijuana Helped severely reduce Daughter's Seizures. - abcnews.go.comTests showed she was having over 1000 seizures a day. In consultation with doctors in Colorado, Heather Benton said, they tried a few marijuana-derived products and found that a patch that they put on Addyson's ankle each morning reduced her seizures. On Monday, Benton only counted three visible seizures all day."Six hours after we put it on her, she lit up," Benton said. "She stared mimicking hand gestures, talking, mimicking words on TV," Benton said. "I was just blown away," Benton added. "I never thought we would be here." > more

USA - Pioneer Pot States Did The Right Thing, Polls Show. Support for legalized marijuana seems to be growing in Colorado and Washington state, which became the first U.S. states to regulate the weed for recreational use two years ago. - HuffingtonPost.com> more

Looks Good Enough To Smoke or Eat: Marijuana Gets Its Glamour Moment. - NPR.ORG> more

Canada - Allan Rock, president of U of Ottawa and former Federal Health Minister that initiated the Federal Medical Marijuana Program, involved in medical marijuana business. - metronews.ca> more

Medical marijuana changes life for Texas girl, Alexi Bortell. - kgns.tvThe results from medical marijuana are remarkable for Alexis. Seizures have gone from once a day in Texas to once a month in Colorado."We're not seeing symptom reduction," Dean Bortell said. "We're seeing symptom elimination."> more

USA - Democratic Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders Supports Decriminalizing Marijuana and may be receptive to Legalizing it for Adult Use - dailycaller.com> more

Colorado passes bill to allow Young patients to possess medicinal marijuana on school grounds. Jack Splitt, a 14-year-old suffers from spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and dystonia is one of them. - durangoherald.com> more

Marijuana Investors Growing Faster Than The Deals. A trend that Leighton has noticed amongst his investors are that they tend to be in the 45-60 age group, are already successful businessmen and aren’t squeamish when it comes to investing in this area. - forbes.com> more

Oh God, Mom and Dad, You and Your Medical Marijuana Are So Embarrassing! Last night’s episode of True Life was titled “My Parents Love Their Weed.” What else do you possibly need to know? - gawker.com> more

Hemp - Surrounded by hemp: Plan to use Colorado crop for building insulation. There are 159 registered Colorado hemp growers who have filed to plant 2,648 acres this year, according to the state Department of Agriculture. - TheCannabist.Co> more

Tuesday May 19th, 2015

Canada - Justin Trudeau commits to Regulating Marijuana for Adult Use, early on in his term, if he's elected in the upcoming federal election. - Straight.com> more

National Geographic - USA - Will Marijuana for Sick Kids Get the Federal Government to Rethink Marijuana Laws?

Canada - The Canadian Bioceutical Corporation Engages Award Winning Research Scientist to Assist with Development of Cannabis and Other Herbal Based Health Products. Dr. Thompson served as a Clinical Research Associate at North York General Hospital in Toronto and initiated the study of cannabinoids in epilepsy at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Toronto. He has extensive experience in the design and implementation of clinical trials administered by Health Canada.> Link

MyDx to Host Virtual Roadshow on July 15, 2015 : MyDx, Inc. (OTCQB: MYDX), creator of MyDx™ (My Diagnostic), the first handheld chemical analyzer for consumers, will host a virtual roadshow and webcast on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific time (11:00 a.m. Eastern time) to provide investors with a detailed overview of the company and outline the strategy for growth.> Link

Canada - PharmaCan Capital Corp.: News Release : With PharmaCan's assistance Peace Naturals has obtained a $4 million mortgage financing to further the expansion of its production capacity.> Link

GrowCo Purchases Second Cannabis Greenhouse. Construction will begin early this fall. When the second greenhouse is completed, GrowCo will have 180,000 square feet of grow space to lease. A total of 360,000 square feet for lease is to be completed in Colorado by the end of 2016.> Link

CrowdGather, Inc. Announces Corporate Update; Intention to Enter Crowdfunding Space in 2016. The Company disclosed it will be designing a crowdfunding platform focused on cannabis and digital startups which it hopes to launch on CrowdGather.com in 2016. > Link

One of North America's foremost holistic veterinarians and a world expert on cannabis and its medicinal benefits for pets is joining True Leaf Medicine International's advisory board, the company announced today. Dr. Robert Silver of Boulder, Colorado, will provide True Leaf with knowledge and guidance as it develops cannabinoid-based therapies for animal and pet health. > Link

HempLifeToday Announces Development of AquazALL, a New Bottled Alaskan Glacier Water Infused With Its CannazALL CBD Oil> Link

PharmaCyte Biotech's Melligen Cells Prove Safe in First Preclinical Test. In addition, PharmaCyte Biotech is developing treatments for cancer based upon chemical constituents of the Cannabis plant, known as cannabinoids. In doing so, PharmaCyte Biotech is examining ways to exploit the benefits of Cell-in-a-Box(R) technology in optimizing the anticancer effectiveness of cannabinoids, while minimizing or outright eliminating the debilitating side effects usually associated with cancer treatments. This provides PharmaCyte Biotech the rare opportunity to develop "green" approaches to fighting deadly diseases, such as cancer of the brain, breast and pancreas, which affect hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide every year.> Link

Canada - Galileo Life Sciences, Inc. Announces Board and Management Changes. "Galileo Life Sciences is at the forefront of the dynamic new medical marijuana industry in Canada and committed to leading edge research and development in support of rapidly growing alternative health and life sciences trends and technologies. I look forward to working with the management team and my fellow Board members to fuel the profitable growth of our company," stated Dr. Khan. > Link

Insys Therapeutics Announces Its Pharmaceutical Cannabidiol Received Fast Track Designation From FDA for the Treatment of Dravet Syndrome> Link

Canada - Mettrum Announces Third Quarter 2014 Financial ResultsExcerpt - "For the three-month period ended December 31, 2014, Mettrum generated $689,478 of revenues on 94,695 grams of medical cannabis sold at an average price of $7.28 per gram. During the third quarter, gross profit amounted to $237,588 or 34.5 percent of revenues as the Company continued its efforts on further improving operational efficiencies and increasing its licensed production and sales capacity."> Link

Earth Science Tech Secures Ground Breaking Second Provisional Patent for Its CBD (Cannabidiol) Rich Hemp Oil Because of Its Findings With the University of Central Oklahoma and the Effects of CBD on Immune Cells. Title of Patent Name "Cannabidiol Compositions and Uses 2," Serial No. 62102538> Link

Mary's Medicinals Launches Mary's Journal Mobile App to Help Patients Track and Optimize Medical Cannabis Use. First Mobile App to Support Medical Cannabis Research Now Available in Apple App Store and Google Play Store> Link

Easton Pharmaceuticals Provides Medicated Markets Due Diligence Update With the Disclosure of Total Number of Plants, Strains and Dispensaries Currently Being Serviced> Link

* Technical difficulties prevented the Thursday and Friday updates.

Monday January 12th, 2015

Announcing 1st Annual Ascent Expo, Biggest Entertainment and Philanthropy Event of 2015. (Hemp inc is one of the sponsors)> Link

EdenShield Completes Raise of Over $1 Million.EdenShield's nontoxic technology for insect control is based on extracts of medicinal plants endemic to Israel's semi-desert. Leveraging the beneficial characteristics of desert plants, the product masks the odor of the crop and lowers insect attraction, causing the insects to simply pursue feeding options elsewhere.> Link

Canada - Lotus Ventures Commences Trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange. The company has the rights, subject to certain conditions, to acquire a production facility and operating assets in British Columbia, to be operated under the Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations, upon obtaining a new production license.> Link

GB Sciences Hosts First Medical Cannabis Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico "Education is the key to providing access for the hundreds of thousands of people around the world who suffer from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, epilepsy, and so many other diseases that would benefit from pharmaceutical-grade cannabis products," says Dr. Small-Howard.> Link

Earth Science Tech Enters Stage 2 of Research on Its Hemp Oil Enriched With CBD (Cannabidiol) on Immune Cells and Announces Multiple Patents and Clinical Trials of the CBD-Cannabinoid Compounds> Link

Friday October 31st, 2014

Texas Children's Hospital part of first worldwide clinical trial for Epidiolex® in children with Dravet syndrome. > Link

Garden Media Releases 2015 Garden Trends Report: "Unearthing the Best Life""First it was 'eat your garden.' Then it was 'drink your garden.' Now, it's 'smoke your garden,'" says McCoy. "Marijuana is going to become a great ornamental plant as people continue to customize their garden and outdoor space to meet their needs."> Link

Cannlabs Opens Licensed Laboratory in Connecticut; Company has 50% of Market Currently Contracted> Link

Cannabis Science Releases Positive Laboratory Results From Both The EU Certified As Well As Its Own Unique Cannabis Strains Grown In Its Spain Operations. Analytical results indicate successful move to the next stage of protocols for pre-clinical drug development.> Link

New Colombia Resources Inc Subsidiary, Sannabis, Produces First Batch of Medical Marijuana Based Products in Colombia to Fill Back Orders. Sannabis is producing a "Made in Colombia" topical cannabis medical product for worldwide distribution through infomercials.> Link

Hydroponics & Cultivation Solutions Continue to Be Profitable Business for Cannabis Industry Operations While Enjoying Tremendous Growth Potential. Company Acquires Hydroponics Company With Expected Potential of $3Million in Revenues> Link

Earth Science Tech Announces and Secures New Provisional Patent for "Hemp Oil Enriched With CBD (Cannabidiol)" Filed With the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)> Link

Agritek Holdings, Inc. Announces Execution of First Long Term Lease Agreements With Licensed Tenants for New Pueblo, Colorado Recreational Agricultural Facility. Company Approves First Tenant Lease Agreements on Behalf of Licensed Growers and Enters Negotiations for $10,000,000 Financing Contract for Greenhouse Infrastructure and Build out> Link

USA - International - Reciprocity : Nevada Medical Marijuana Access - The new provision allows any legally registered medical cannabis patient from anywhere in the world to purchase marijuana in any Nevada dispensary.> Link

Legalization Of Cannabis Results In Huge Demand In Edibles As Ebook Becomes Best Seller> Link

United Cannabis Corp. Signs Property Development Agreement With INTIVA Real Estate for 80-Acre Parcel in Pueblo County, Colorado. The Three Million Square Foot Site to Focus on the Cultivation of Marijuana for Company's Proprietary Medical Products> Link

Mary's Medicinals Introduces Line of Cannabinoid Supplements With Industry First Isolated CBN and CBD> Link

Colorado Company Unveils Innovative Line of Pre-packaged Cannabis Products> Link

Monday September 15th, 2014

USA - CrownBaus Capital Corp. Set to Acquire 'LoudCrush' Mobile App;"A New Compassionate Kind of Social High". LoudCrush will be powered by CrownBaus and will be marketed worldwide by W Agency, a division of WebCongress, Inc., a subsidiary of CrownBaus.> Link

USA - Economic Impact Study of Colorado Harvest Company and Evergreen Apothecary Cannabis Dispensaries Shows an Increase of 280 Jobs and $30 Million in Revenue. Taxes Paid by the Business Total 10 Times the Tax Revenue of a Comparable Retail Store and Restaurant.> Link

USA - CSO Andrea Small-Howard PhD of GrowBLOX Sciences, Inc. to Be Interviewed LIVE on Clear Channel Business Talk Radio -- August 13th, 2014. GrowBLOX Sciences, Inc. is a medical marijuana research and biotechnology company that has developed proprietary indoor growing chambers specifically designed for medical cannabis cultivation.> Link

USA - Cannabis Science, CBIS, Very Excited Over Federal Cannabis Legalization Efforts in U.S. House and Senate to Change Medical Cannabis Laws> Link

Dr. Duke Fu Announced as New President of Premiere Marijuana Consulting and Management Firm The MedMen. Former Cardinal Health Manager Brings Expertise to Optimize Company's Role at the Forefront of Big Business> Link

Wednesday July 30th, 2014

Canada - Cinaport and Mettrum Announced Closing of $34.5 Million Concurrent Financing to the Qualifying Transaction> Link

Canada - Highmark Enters Into a Non-Binding LOI With a Corporation in the Final Stages of Becoming a Licensed Producer of Marijuana> Link

USA - Cannabiz Mobile Inc. Announces the Launch of their New Website> Link

USA - Alliance Creative Group, Inc. (ACGX) Signs an Agreement in the Cannabis/Medical Marijuana Industry and Accomplishes Record Revenue for the First 6 Months of 2014. Company Has Over $6,000,000 in Revenue During the First 6 Months of 2014> Link

USA - Canada - Creative Edge Nutrition Inc. (CEN Biotech) Appoints Three New Members to Board of Directors. Company continues to strengthen and diversify its Board with the Addition of Mr. Keith William Volpone, Mr. Eric Nashman and Dr. Roger Shaban> link

USA - Amercanex Is Revolutionizing Order and Efficiency in the Cannabis Industry. …will become the first fully Electronic Cannabis Market (ECM) in which wholesale and retail distributors of cannabis can sell, buy, or exchange their inventories on a fully disclosed and transparent environment using the ACE Marketplace> link